·Improving your English in an adult education centre (doing English for Speakers of Other Languages - ESOL)

So what happens at these Student Days? You meet other students, hear about what is happening at a national level and you go to two workshops. See the workshops listed further on. These days are run by NALA (National Adult Literacy Agency). NALA wants to hear how you are getting on with learning, so that students’ experiences inform our work.

Wondering what NALA is? See here for more information about what we do.

The Student Days are for students! NALA occasionally receives requests from tutors and Adult Literacy Organisers that they wish to attend the Student Days. Our policy is that the day is for students only. The only exception to this is when we invite a tutor or speaker to play a specific role at the Student Days (facilitate a workshop or give a talk). Then we invite them to stay on if they wish. The reason for this is to give students a chance to explore together their experience. NALA organises a Tutors’ Forum in January each year for adult literacy tutors and the Agency has four other conferences that target volunteer and paid tutors and Organisers, more so than students.

Is there a cost to attend? No, however, the event is for NALA members. Joining NALA shows that you are interested in literacy and numeracy issues in Ireland and that you support NALA’s work. If you are not already a member you can join NALA for free.

What next? See the programme below and fill in the booking form. You will attend one workshop in the morning and a different one in the afternoon. We will fill workshops on a first come first served basis. Once you have filled in the form, come along at 9.30 am on the day.

Fill in the form below: When it comes to the workshop section, please put number 1 beside your first preference, number two beside your second and so on. If you don't mind which workshop you go to, choose "Don't mind / no preference given". Do fill in the form to help us plan the day.

Programme for the NALA Student Day in the Anner Hotel, Thurles, Co. Tipperary on Saturday 11 March 2017

Theme: “Using technology that suit me”

Agenda:

9.30 - 10.00 Registration and tea and coffee

10.00 – 10.10 Welcome and what the day is about and update on issues raised last year

10.10 – 10.30 Four students give short talks, starting with where they are now after going back to education

10.30 - 11.20 “Getting to know you and issues that matter to you” in small groups

11.30 to 1.00 Workshops - Students attend one workshop for the morning and a different one in the afternoon

Blue workshop “Getting the most out of your phone: Beginners”. This workshop is for people who have a mobile phone but are mainly using it for phone calls at the moment.

Red workshop "Getting the most out of your phone: Advanced". You need a smart phone to benefit from this workshop (for example an iPhone or an Android phone).

Purple workshop "Dyslexia: What is it? Your experience. Tips to deal with it". This workshop will give you information on what dyslexia is, and give you a chance to discuss your experience. Also you will receive tips to deal with dyslexia.

Green workshop "Fun creative worskhop learning new ways to tell a story". This workshop will give you a chance to be creative in telling your story about going back to education.